The local picture
Home energy in Birmingham
Most homes in Birmingham are on mains gas, but a significant minority rely on electric, oil or LPG heating. Both groups can qualify for support: boiler replacements for gas homes, and heat pump funding for homes off the grid.
That’s about 66,383 of the 461,670 homes in Birmingham — higher than the average for the West Midlands.
An estimated 60,832 households in Birmingham (13.8%) are in fuel poverty — living on a lower income in a home that’s expensive to heat. That’s higher than the West Midlands average of 12.1%, which is why grant funding here is so important.
Sources: DESNZ, Sub-national estimates of properties not connected to the gas network, 2024 data (published December 2025); DESNZ, Sub-regional fuel poverty data 2026 (2024 data), Low Income Low Energy Efficiency measure.
What’s available
Grants you could get in Birmingham
For most homes in Birmingham, a funded boiler replacement and better insulation make the biggest difference — but we’ll check every scheme you could qualify for.
Eligibility
Who can apply in Birmingham?
- You own your home or rent it privately (with your landlord’s permission)
- Your heating is old, inefficient or not on mains gas — or you have no central heating
- Someone in your household receives a qualifying benefit, or your income or postcode qualifies through local criteria
- For heat pumps: you’re replacing oil, gas, LPG or electric heating (not means-tested)
Not sure? Just ask.
Rules differ between schemes, and some depend on where you live in Birmingham. Apply online or call 0800 246 1797 and we’ll check your postcode.
FAQs
Grant questions in Birmingham
Can I get a free boiler in Birmingham?
Yes — homeowners and private tenants in Birmingham can apply for government-backed funding. Eligibility usually depends on your heating system and household circumstances, such as receiving certain benefits, and in some areas your income or postcode. A quick application tells us what you could be entitled to.
How many homes in Birmingham are off the gas grid?
Around 14.4% of homes in Birmingham — roughly 66,383 properties — aren’t connected to the gas network, higher than the West Midlands average of 13.4%. These homes can often get extra support, including up to £9,000 towards a heat pump where the Boiler Upgrade Scheme applies.
Can I get a heat pump grant in Birmingham?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump, plus an extra £1,500 until March 2027 for homes heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection. It isn’t means-tested.